perryman



G. H. PERRYMAN APPARATUS AND METHOD OF' DRYING PAPER July 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Filed June 6. 1957 FIG.1.

v INVENTOR.

July 21, 1959 G. H. PERRYMAN 2,895,058

APPARATUS AND METHOD oF DRYING PAPER United States Patent 2,896,058 APPARATUS AND METHOD OFfDRYlNG PAPER George H. Perryman, Teaneck, NJ. Application June v6, 1957, Serial No. 664,112 4 Claims. v(Cl. 219--20) erate, and very often the quality of the paper produced by it lacks uniformity in dryness due to the failure to accurately control the heat applied to the paper.

It is one of the objects of the present invention toprovide an apparatus and method for drying a moving paper web and by means of which uniformity of quality in the finished product will result. It is an object of lthe invention to provide a greatly simplified Vapparatus for drying the paper; to provide heating and resultant-drying of vthe paper by means of 'modern types of high 'intensity infra-red heaters; to provide controlling means for said Vheaters whereby successive banks of the heaters along the line of travel of the paper web will be operated only when the paper web is in movement; only when the moisture content of the web is at or above a predetermined level; and only when the temperature of the web is below an established degree, and by which the various banks of heaters are illuminated only when a paper web is in its position of travel over and between the rolls.

It is another object of the invention to provide high intensity infra-red drying means for a paper'web, whereby a travelling web of the paper will pass between opposed banks of infra-red lamps and with automatic means provided for maintaining the lamps in said opposed banks inoperative when the web is not in place between them, thereby preventing lamp damage bythe imposition of heat of one bank upon its companion bank.

I am aware that prior to thepresent invention, efforts have been made to employ infra-red lamps as a means for drying paper and other sheet materials. However, such efforts have been confined solely to the use of low energy lamps and no elforts have been heretofore made to use high-wattage, high-intensity lamps now available, due to the possibility that uncontrolled use of such lamps would not only be likely,`under ordinary circumstances, to damage the paper, but also likely to destroy the lamps themselves, particularly when the lamps are arranged in opposed relationship. The lamps would also be likely to be destroyed upon failure of the paper web to move between banks of these lamps. The Webof paper would be likely to be damaged or destroyed upon a web of low moisture content passing in front of the lamps, and upon other contingencies for which no previous safety measures had been taken.

It is therefore another one of the objects of the present invention to not only provide a structure in which presentday lhigh-wattage, high-intensity infra-red lamps may be used as the drying means, but to provide safety controls by which damage to the paper, or damage to the lamps "ice and other parts of the apparatus will be effectively prevented.

With these objects, and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts and steps to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus con` structed according tothe invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of a partof a bank of infra-red lamps, and

Fig. 3 is an electrical diagram for 'the lamps and controls.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. l, there is therein shown a plurality of rolls indicated respectively at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 over which the paper web 7 to be dried travels, the same moving at a relatively high rate of speed, in the direction 'of the larrows 8. While only six of these rolls are shown, it will be understood that this number may be materially increased according to the drying time required. The web 7 passes over the rolls in festoon manner and while it is travelling it is dried by being subjected to the heat rays from a number of banks of high-intensity infra-red heating lamps. The banks of lamps are preferably located in a manner to direct their heat upon the stretches of the web moving between the rolls. As illustrated in Fig. l, the banks 'of these lamps are indicated respectively at 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The bank of lamps indicated at 9 is positioned between the rolls 1 and 2; the bank shown at 10 is located between the rolls 2 and 3; the bank shown 'at 11 is lsituated between the rolls 3 and 4; the bank shown at 12 is located between the rolls 4 and 5, -and the bank shown at 13 is positioned between rolls 5 vand 6. It will be understood that the number of banks of lamps employed willbe dependent upon the time of heating required for satisfactory drying of the paper web. It is also possible-to arrange the banks of lamps between alternate stretches ofthe web or otherwise position them for most eifective drying of the web.

The rolls can be steam-heated to thus aid in the drying of the web, or they may be merely heated suiciently to prevent them fromextracting heat from the paper web as it passes over the rolls.

The lamps used for this purpose are the present-day quartz, high-wattage, high-intensity, infra-'red lamps as presently sold by the General lElectric Company,k and such lamps are usually in the form of small diameter, lengthy tubes such as indicated at 15 in Fig. 2. The lamps are suitably supported at their opposite ends in suitable sockets or 'receptacles 16, and each lamp is backed by a parabolic reliector'17 tending to direct the heat rays from the lamp toward the paper web 7. As seen in Fig. l, each bank of lamps is in two sections, indicated respectively at 18 and 19, the lamps in said sections being opposed or faced toward one another with suitable spacing 20 between them through which the paper web 7 travels. In view of the fact that the lamps in the two sections 18 and 19 direct their heat toward each other, and since said lamps are of high intensity, there is the possibility that when the lamps in the two sections are illuminated and no paper webis interposed between them, the lamps are likely to be damaged or destroyed. Hence it becomes necessary to provide safety controls to be presently described to not only prevent this occurrence, butto also prevent damage to the paper web.

It is also desirable to control the operation of the several banks of lamps according to the moisture content of the paper web; according to the temperature of the paper web; according to the speed of movement of the heads so that the web upon leaving roll 3 will pass these f heads. At 26 and 27 is provided a similar photoelectric arrangement so that the paper web on its way from roll 2 to roll 3 will pass this arrangement. Again at 28 and 29 is provided another photoelectric control past which the paper web moves on its way from roll 4 to roll 5.

Finally, at 30 and 31 is provided another photoelectric control past which the web passes after leaving roll 5. The positioning and number of these photoelectric controls can be varied according to requirements, their purpose being to control the operation of the lamps as the web passes each control. That is to say if, for example, the paper web should be torn or interrupted before it reaches controls 26 and 27, these controls will prevent illumination of the lamp banks l0, 11, 12 and 13. These photoelectric controls are of known construction, the same being standard circuits controlling thyratron relays which are caused to operate to close circuit to high power circuit breaker relays, indicated respectively at 32, 33 and 34 and other similar relays according to the number of lamp banks employed. This arrangement is such that at any of the points whereat the photoelectric controls are located, such controls will be eiective, when the paper web is not passing them, to operate the circuit breaker relay to which that particular control is connected to cut olf power to the lamp banks in advance of the particular control where failure of the paper web occurred.

At 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 are indicated temperaturesensitive radiation pyrometer heads connected by known circuits to thyratron relays operative to control the lighting of the lamp banks. These pyrometer heads which sense the temperature of the moving web without physical Contact with the same, operate to energize the thyratron relays, which are in turn connected to the relays, 32, 33, 34 etc, in a manner to cause the lamps to be illuminated or remain illuminated only when the temperature of the paper is at or is below a predetermined level. That is to say, if the paper, at any one of the pyrometer controls reaches a temperature above a predetermined level, the lamp Ibanks toward which the web is moving will be extinguished and will so remain until the temperature of the web drops accordingly.

At 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 in Fig. 1 are shown capacity or induction oscillator elements which control thyratron relays, the induction and/or capacity elements being affected by moisture in the paper web to an extent as to cause energization of their relays and consequently cause operation of the power relays 32, 33, 34 while a predetermined amount of moisture is contained in the travelling paper web. Examples of the types of humidity controlling-devices above mentioned are found in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,754,063; 2,567,876; 2,522,348 and 2,412,782. Thus, if at any point whereat one of these moisture controls is positioned the paper web has reduced quantity of moisture, the control will become at once effective to extinguish all of the banks of lamps toward which the web is proceeding.

Another control employed is a known centrifugal governor type of switch controlled by governors 45 to 49 inclusive, employed on the shafts of the rolls 2 to 6 inclusive. Upon slowing down of any one of the rolls 2 to 6 inclusive, the governor controlled by the shaft of the slow-moving roll will become effective to close a switch and thus shut off power to the lamp banks toward which the web is proceeding.

All of the controls, namely, the photoelectric controls; temperature controls; moisture controls; roll-speed conf 2,896,058 r a f trols and succeeding-stage control switches are electrically connected in series and are in turn interlockingly connected to the main power circuit breakers 32, 33, 34 in each stage so that the closing of all switches in any single group, or the opening of any one switch in any single group will cause the main circuit breakers to operate and shut oi or turn on the lamps as required. That is to say, if for example, any one of the switches controlled by elements 21, 22, 35, 40 or 45 should be opened because of failure of the web, because of overhigh temperature of the same; because of lowered moisture content; of slow-feeding speed of roll 2 or because of operation of one of the succeeding-stage control switches, the relay 32 will become effective to shut oit power supply to the banks of lamps toward which the web is being moved, thus not only preventing damage to the paper web but preventing injury to the lamps in all succeeding stages which would be likely to destroy themselves, particularly should the paper passing between them be burned away or interrupted by breakage.

'Ihe elements shown at 50, 51 and 52 are succeeding stage control electric circuit breaker switches controlled by themain power feed circuit breakers 32, 33 and 34,

Y the switch shown at 50 being controlled by relay switch 32; that shown at 51 being controlled by relay switch 33 and that shown at 52 being controlled by relay switch 34, the operation of circuit breakers 32, 33 and 34 causing the circuits for the three stages shown to be respectively closed.

In the diagram of Fig. 3, three heating stages only are shown as distinguished from the tive stages shown in Fig. 1, it being understood that any additional stages employed will be substantially similar to those disclosed. While the various controls disclosed herein are shown as being arranged in a certain sequence, it will be understood that the same may be otherwise arranged or duplicated as may be required by the travel of the paper web. In addition the controls may be increased in number or they may be positioned at locations otherv than those herein disclosed. These controls are extremely quick-acting so that the possibility of damage to any substantial portion of the paper web is minimized.

In the operation of the apparatus described each successive stage of infra-red tubes is mechanically and electronically controlled so that in order for each successive stage to be generating heat, the preceding stage must be on and generating heat; there must be a web of paper in the stage; the web must be moving at a predetermined speed or at a greater rate of speed; the paper emerging from any one stage must contain over a predetermined amount of moisture and must be below a given Ytemperature. All of the controls hereinfdescribed are such that the same operate without physical contact with the paper.

In view of the great intensity of heat generated by the quartz lamps described, it is possible to move the paper at a much greater speed than usual due to the rapid drying of the paper, thus resulting in increased output. The type of heat employed is such as to insure uniform drying of the paper and a precise control of the amount of moisture to be removed from or permitted to remain in the paper is possible.

The rolls over which the paper passes may be steamheated if desired, the temperature thereof being priman ily regulated at least to an extent to prevent the rolls from extracting heat from the paper web.V

Having described an embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enoughrto cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

l. In an apparatus for drying paper, meansfor moving a paper web, a plurality of successive banks of infrared heatingY devices to which the web is successively moved and which operate directly upon the web to dry the same, and a pluralityr vof control means operative by direct ascertainment of the condition of the web and by which the operation of the several banks of heating devices are controlled, said control means being operative to extinguish selected banks of the heating devices when no web is present in the moving means; when the moisture `content in the moving web is below a predetermined level; when the temperature of the web is above a certain level and when the speed of movement of the web is reduced.

2. In an apparatus for drying paper, means for moving a paper web, a plurality of banks of infra-red heaters past which the web is moved to be dried thereby, a moisture control device adjacent to each bank for controlling the operation of successive banks according .to the moisture content actually contained in the web, and a temperature control also adjacent to each bank for controlling the operation of the several banks according to the temperature of the web.

3. In a paper drying apparatus, a plurality of rolls over which a paper web is moved, an electric circuit for controlling the movement of the rolls, a plurality of separated banks of infra-red heating lamps past which the paper web is moved to dry the web, a plurality of spaced switch-controlling devices arranged along the path of travel of the web, said devices being electrically connected in series in an electric circuit for controlling the illumination of the lamp banks and arranged to extin guish the lamps inthe several banks according to reduced rate of feed of the paper web, moisture content of the web, temperature of the web or breakage of the web.

4. In an apparatus for drying paper, means for moving a paper web, a plurality of successive banks of infrared heating devices to which the web is successively moved and which operate directly upon the web to dry the same, and a plurality of control means by which the operation of the several banks of heating devices are controlled, said control means being operative to extin- Iguish selected banks of the heating devices when no web is present in the moving means; when the moisture content in the moving web is below a predetermined level; when the temperature of the web is above a certain level; when lamps in a preceding bank are extinguished, and when the speed of movement of the web is reduced.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,811,522 Shover et al June 23, 1931 2,064,589 Convers Dec. 15, 1936 2,146,427 Hawkins Feb. 7, 1939 2,270,732 Jones Jan. 20, 1942 2,308,239 Bell Jan. 12, 1944 2,349,300 Olsen May 23, 1947 2,420,399 New May 13, 1947 2,565,570 Messinger Aug. 28, 1951 2,674,809 Meinhofer Apr. 13, 1954 

